PRIME Minister John Howard has let questions on the furore surrounding Australian cricket umpire Darrell Hair go through to the keeper - but he believes umpires should be supported.
Asked on ABC radio in Tasmania today if he would stand behind Hair, Mr Howard, a self-confessed cricket fanatic, said: "I’ll leave that to the International Cricket Council.
But he went on: "I always believe that umpires and referees should be supported by the governing body of the game.
"There are rules and, provided the rules are followed and properly applied, then the umpires should be supported.
“Once you start cutting and running from supporting umpires, you have chaos.”
The fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan ended in a forfeit this week after Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove penalised Pakistan for ball-tampering, leading to a protest by Pakistani players.
The scheduled one-day series is in doubt as negotiations on the remainder of the tour continue.
Mr Howard said he hoped the matter would be resolved because Pakistan is a great cricketing nation.
“Their President is a cricket fanatic, like I am, and I just hope that the matter is resolved and we go back to normal operations,” he said.
Re: AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER HOWARD SUPPORTS HAIR
its not new. Australia as a country is pathetic when it comes to nationalities and racism.
Their PM was very much involved in Indonesia and East temor issue. So don't expect anything better from them.
Re: AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER HOWARD SUPPORTS HAIR
Come on... Hair is his countrymen what do you expect.
Whats so wrong about it? The normal world supports their countrymen. We have yet to learn that art!